Ūnadvādasavassa

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Bhikkhunivibhaṅga

The Nuns’ Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Kumāribhūtavagga

The subchapter on unmarried women

74. Ūnadvādasavassasikkhāpada

Giving ordination while under twelve years’ seniority

Origin story

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo ūnadvādasavassā vuṭṭhāpenti.

At that time nuns who had less than twelve years of seniority were giving the full admission.

Tā bālā honti abyattā na jānanti kappiyaṁ vā akappiyaṁ vā.

They were ignorant and incompetent, and they did not know what was allowable and what was not.

Saddhivihāriniyopi bālā honti abyattā;

And their students too were ignorant and incompetent,

na jānanti kappiyaṁ vā akappiyaṁ vā.

and they too did not know what was allowable and what was not.

Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,

“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo ūnadvādasavassā vuṭṭhāpessantī”ti …pe…

“How can nuns who have less than twelve years of seniority give the full admission?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo ūnadvādasavassā vuṭṭhāpentī”ti?

“Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?”

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…

The Buddha rebuked them …

kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo ūnadvādasavassā vuṭṭhāpessanti.

“How can nuns do this?

Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

“Yā pana bhikkhunī ūnadvādasavassā vuṭṭhāpeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun who has less than twelve years of seniority gives the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

Yā panāti

A:

yā yādisā …pe…

whoever …

bhikkhunīti

Nun:

…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti.

… The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case.

Ūnadvādasavassā nāma

Who has less than twelve years of seniority:

appattadvādasavassā.

who has not reached twelve years of seniority.

Vuṭṭhāpeyyāti

Gives the full admission:

upasampādeyya.

gives the full ordination.

“Vuṭṭhāpessāmī”ti gaṇaṁ vā ācariniṁ vā pattaṁ vā cīvaraṁ vā pariyesati, sīmaṁ vā sammannati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If, intending to give the full admission, she searches for a group, a teacher, a bowl, or a robe, or she establishes a monastery zone, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ.

After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Dvīhi kammavācāhi dukkaṭā.

After each of the first two announcements, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Kammavācāpariyosāne upajjhāyāya āpatti pācittiyassa.

When the last announcement is finished, the preceptor commits an offense entailing confession,

Gaṇassa ca ācariniyā ca āpatti dukkaṭassa.

and the group and the teacher commit an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

paripuṇṇadvādasavassā vuṭṭhāpeti,

if one who has twelve years of seniority gives the full admission;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Catutthasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The fourth training rule is finished.